Motorists are being advised to brake but not to swerve around deer in avoiding collisions with the animals.

"Statistics show that most motorist deaths and injuries occur when drivers swerve to avoid hitting a deer and, instead, hit a fixed object, such as a tree or another vehicle," said Michigan Deer Crash Coalition Chairman Richard Miller of AAA Michigan. "No one wants to see a deer destroyed, but striking the animal is often the safest action for the drivers and passengers."

"We want motorists to understand their responsibility in the safety equation," said Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director Gloria Jeff. "The chances of a car-deer crash are reduced significantly when motorists remember to 'think deer' and react accordingly if one is spotted."

If a crash with a deer is unavoidable, safety officials recommend drivers take the following steps: Don’t swerve. Brake firmly and hold onto the steering wheel with both hands. Come to a controlled stop. Move the vehicle out of traffic to a safe location.

Car-deer crashes in Michigan cause at least $130 million in damage each year, which is an average of $2,000 per vehicle involved, according to the Deer Crash Coalition. In 2004, there were more than 60,000 car-deer crashes.